River-woman
Mysterious mother of Goldberry who lived in the Old Forest in the Withywindle River. The River-woman was apparently some kind of water-spirit, possibly a naiad or a mermaid. The River-woman may have lived in a vernal pool of some kind in the Withywindle, and in this pool she and her daughter would often swim.
One day, Tom Bombadil took Goldberry to his home where she became his companion. The River-woman was sad to be left alone in the Withywindle, and all of reeds in her pool sighed after Goldberry's departure. Presumably Goldberry could visit her mother on occasion because Tom's home was not far away, but this is not certain. It is known, however, that Tom would collect water lilies for his wife in the pool in which Goldberry had lived before she came to live with him.
One day, Tom Bombadil took Goldberry to his home where she became his companion. The River-woman was sad to be left alone in the Withywindle, and all of reeds in her pool sighed after Goldberry's departure. Presumably Goldberry could visit her mother on occasion because Tom's home was not far away, but this is not certain. It is known, however, that Tom would collect water lilies for his wife in the pool in which Goldberry had lived before she came to live with him.
References
"The Adventures of Tom Bombadil" in A Tolkien Reader
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